Designer Maternity Clothing Collections

Being pregnant does not mean you will have to sacrifice your sense of style for nine months. From top designers to nationwide chain stores the clothing possibilietes are endless for today's mom to be.

If you think that the phrase "designer maternity clothing" involves sweatpants and your husband's t-shirts then you are in for a wonderful surprise. There was a time in the not so distant past when women were taught to hide their growing bumps behind layers and layers of unflattering maternity clothing. Today's woman, however, has many more options. Just because you're pregnant does not mean that you have to sacrifice your sense of style. Many popular designers have noticed this trend and expanded their collections to include maternity lines. Pregnant women now have to option to be trendy and chic (as well as extremely comfortable).

If you polled 100 women about their favorite piece of clothing and you would find that most women really want the same thing: a great pair of jeans! Denim can take you from relaxing at home to a night out on the town with nothing more than a little accessorizing. Denim designer to the stars, Earl Jeans, offers a maternity jean cleverly designed with hidden elastic panels in the side pockets. Top jean designer Citizens of Humanity also offer their "Kelly Jean" for moms-to-be. The signature Citizens' pockets and boot cut design make them one of the most flattering jeans for any body type.

Another must-have maternity item is comfortable loungewear. Juicy Couture's line of hip, comfortable gear is available at A Pea in the Pod stores nationwide (and on their website). They have an array of cute halter-tops, tanks, hooded sweatshirts and luxurious terry cloth pants. Juicy's line of pregnancy staples are so stylish that they can be worn outside the home for casual errands.

If these top designers don't quite fit in with your budget, then don't fret. You can still be stylish and trendy while pregnant and not break the bank. The Gap, longtime retailer of mid-priced contemporary separates, offers a "starter kit" for pregnant moms. The kit includes four tops and four bottoms all designed to be mixed-and-matched to create several different looks from casual to more refined. Another lower priced alternative is Old Navy. Old Navy has many options such as office wear, jeans, overalls, pajamas and even swimwear. The prices found at Old navy won't break the bank, either. If your local Gap or Old Navy Store doesn't offer a maternity section in their store don't despair; both are available online.

Even large chain stores are vying for their piece of the designer maternity market. Last year Target started carrying a maternity line from designer Liz Lange. Target, known for its quirky take on modern basics, offers celebrity-quality style from maternity designer to the stars Liz Lange for a fraction of the price. Lange, who is a mother herself, started designing maternity cloths when she was pregnant and unsatisfied with what she found in the marketplace. Her store started as a one-woman shop and grew to include several boutiques and now her line of chic and stylish clothes are available nationwide at Target stores. As a working mom herself, Lange has a practical knowledge of what other moms need in terms of comfort and design, and what they want in terms of style.

The modern pregnant woman has come along way since the unflattering tent-style garb of the past. She wants to look and feel stylish, chic, and comfortable especially when she is pregnant. Thankfully, she has a wide range of options no matter what her tastes or budget.